Intergenerational Ethnic Identity Construction and Transmission among Italian-Australians by Simone Marino

Author:Simone Marino
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783030481452
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

5.5.3 Perceptions of the Third Generation

John, in a number of interviews and informal conversations, reported that he is proud of ‘being Italian’. He talked about his early years in the 2000s, when he was so happy if his grandmother (nonna Rina) picked him up from school. When she did that, they stopped at her house, and John told me could not wait to have the merenda [afternoon snack] at the house of his nonni. Not only was John never a victim of any xenophobia when he was at school, but he, together with some other schoolmates, performed a sort of Italian-ness by wearing what he considered to be Italian clothes (eg. Adidas or Fila tracksuits). When John had his lunchbox made by his nonna, he sometimes used to sell it to his schoolmates of non-Italian background. Additionally, John developed an interest in Italian automobiles. Indeed, John’s first car was a Fiat Punto; he now drives an Alfa Romeo, on which there is a little sticker of the Italian flag.I am proud of being Italian. It’s cool! I can cook, I got style, I got an Alfa Romeo, you know? I think like Italians.

My Italian friends got a Vespa Piaggio, a new Fiat 500, Alfa Romeo cars … we all got rosary beads in it. We all watch The Sopranos20 and impersonate Tony and play his lines. My friends and cousins got ‘SAUCE’ and ‘BELLA’ as a personalised number plate.

I go grocery shopping every Saturday morning with nonna. It’s such a cool thing shopping with her, greeting her friends in Italian: Eh compà!, buying wog food, talking with the hands! Before we get home we have a cappuccino. I am proud of being Italian.

John, I64IIIGM

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